Kerry legend Eamonn Fitzmaurice assesses Gaelic Football rule changes

MANY OF THE NEW RULES proposed by the Football Review Committee were trialled in a Gaelic football game in Mullingar on Saturday afternoon.

The committee, led by former Dublin manager Jim Gavin, has suggested a plethora of changes to the ancient rulebook.

Changes include two points for a long-range score a new 40m arc, and four points awarded for a goal.

Many such alterations were trialled on Saturday in a game refereed by David Coldrick, with more trials to follow in Claremorris, Portlaoise, Armagh and Limerick over the next few months.

Former Kerry manager and player Eamonn Fitzmaurice, a member of the committee, spoke on The Sunday Game about, in his opinion, the success of the trials.

He said: “The two point arc promoted the bit of long distance shooting and promoted the defence pushing out.

“There were more shots (because of the two point arc), and more shots dropping short and that created chaos around the goal-mouth, creating chaos which was good to see,” he added

One of the biggest stylistic changes was the new keeping three defensive players, including the goalkeeper, inside the 65 at all times.

Fitzmaurice remarked: “One bit of feedback that we kind of laughed at afterwards was from Nigel Dunne,”

“He was playing inside in the full forward line (in the trial game) and he felt that he finally was getting a chance to play as a full forward and to burn his energy inside there rather than chasing defenders back the field.”

Fellow panelist Ciaran Whelen quipped: “The bear in the square is back!”

Fitzmaurice added: “You can make a comeback!”

However, the Football Review Committee does have its fair share of critics.

In his column for the Irish Examiner, Sligo manager Tony McEntee wrote: “The FRC survey itself is well-thought out, guiding the respondent along the correct path and helps them make the right decision.

“In other words, it is manipulative, cunning and calculating.

“The results of this survey can be nothing but hugely negative towards Gaelic football as that is the way it (the survey) is designed to be,”

Fitzmaurice disagrees with his viewpoint.

He said: “In fairness to Tony and everyone else, everyone’s entitled to their opinion,”

“That’s why the free text-box is in the survey.”